Stormont in line for £1million funding boost to bring World Cup cricket to Belfast
The Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association (NICSSA) site will undergo significant changes as part of Phase 1 of a longer-term master plan aimed at redeveloping the site's sporting, health, and wellbeing facilities.
The intention is to erect permanent seating at the ground, as well as broadcast facilities, which would allow top-level matches to be played there in five years' time, with Ireland already confirmed as co-hosts of the tournament alongside England, Wales and Scotland.
Stormont has been the host of significant games down the years, including Ireland's victory over Zimbabwe last July.
'The NICSSA Sports Precinct is a fundamentally important venue for Irish cricket – it not only features one of our leading international grounds but provides crucial space for community and domestic representative cricket to take place,' commented Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice.
"The Stormont Cricket Ground holds a great fondness for Irish fans for the many international matches it has held over the years – most notably the Test Match last year against Zimbabwe.
'Numerous reports over the years have highlighted that there is a lack of quality training and playing facilities on the island of Ireland. We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make major in-roads into resolving these issues.
'The proposed redevelopment of the NICSSA facilities is a project that the Board is fully supportive of, and it has unanimously approved a £1 million strategic investment in Phase 1 of the development.
'If you consider this project, the new Stadium at Abbottstown and our direct support for facilities upgrade proposals at Bready and Malahide, we are demonstrating our resolve to tackle the facilities and infrastructure deficits in a substantial manner.'
Also agreed at the board meeting was the creation of five new hybrid pitches, three that will be at Stormont and two in Lisburn, as well as high-quality indoor and outdoor training spaces for all levels of cricket.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Ryder Cup legend in furious argument over golf etiquette with respected TV reporter at US Senior Open
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PADRAIG HARRINGTON was caught in a furious argument with a TV reporter over golf etiquette. The heated row occurred midway through the US Senior Open on Friday at the Broadmoor Golf Club. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Padraig Harrington had a heated argument with Roger Maltbie Credit: X @brettforrestTV 3 The Irishman was irritated as he looked for a lost ball Credit: X @brettforrestTV Harrington, 53, was left fuming as NBC analyst Roger Maltbie after he lost his golf ball. The Ryder Cup legend appeared to be disgruntled with the former PGA star for not helping him search for it. A video caught the heated moment in which Harrington hit out at Maltbie's course etiquette. He said: "Never on a golf course stand and look at somebody looking for a golf ball." READ MORE IN SPORT I'VE GOT LEW Hamilton gives F1 rival lift on his private jet after he was booked on EasyJet Maltbie responded: That's a hard position to take there." They then stepped closer to each other as the argument as tensions continued to boil over. Harrington added: "You've played gold all your life. You understand." But Maltbie did not step down as he replied: "I'm not a player." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The Irish star's caddie, Ronan Flood, tried to step in to calm the situation with little avail. Eventually, the arguing pair walked off from each other as Harrington was asked for an autograph. I played golf with Tiger Woods but he was a ghost behind the scenes - his romance with Vanessa Trump surprised me Fans had their own opinions on the row as they took to social media. One posted: "Just when you thought golf couldn't get any less interesting." A second wrote: "If the player can see him, he's in the wrong place." A third commented: "That is a weird flex for Maltbie." A fourth said: "The relationship between golf and old media is dying in front of our eyes." 3 Harrington still finished the day tied for the lead Credit: Getty A fifth joked: "Seeing mom and dad fight like this is insanely depressing." Another added: "What is going on?" Harrington's round was not affected by the rogue moment as he still managed to finish his round with an impressive 67. He reached six under par and was tied for the lead alongside Stewart Cink. Maltbie switched from pro golf to broadcasting back in 1991, having spent 20 years on the course. He won five tournaments during his time on the PGA Tour.
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Wales Online
How to watch South Africa v Barbarians on TV today - channel and kick-off time
How to watch South Africa v Barbarians on TV today - channel and kick-off time The Barbarians face off against South Africa on Saturday in Cape Town The iconic collective are taking on the double world champions. (Image: (Photo byfor Barbarians) ) The Barbarians face South Africa in Cape Town in a game set to feature some of the world's most renowned players. Lining up for the Baa-Baas are the likes of former All Blacks captain Sam Cane, Ireland legend Peter O'Mahony and superstar New Zealand wing Mark Telea. O'Mahony is going to captain the side in what will be a farewell match for the iconic flanker. Fellow Irish stalwart Cian Healy has also been named in the team for the clash, getting his farewell too. The Barbarians are being coached by New Zealander and former Australia boss Robbie Deans, who is currently the director of rugby at Japanese outfit Saitama Wild Knights. For the Springboks, following this game against the Baa-Baas, they will go on to face Italy in a double header in July. The first match is on July 5, with the second Test on July 12. Rassie Erasmus' side will close out the northern hemisphere portion of their summer internationals with a game against Georgia on July 19, which is the same day the British & Irish Lions play Australia in the first Test. Article continues below South Africa will then take part in The Rugby Championship against New Zealand, Argentina and Australia from July onwards. Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown assured fans they will be treating this game like a Test match. 'It's definitely a different challenge to that which we've faced in the past because they have toppled some top teams, so it will be an ideal test for us at the start of the season,' said Brown. 'For us, this is like a Test match, and this means we need to perform to the best of our ability, and our coaching structures have to be right, so that we can live up to the standards we would like to see from our team.' What time is kick-off? Barbarians v South Africa kicks off at 4.10pm UK time on Saturday, June 28, at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. Viewing details Barbarians v South Africa is being shown live on Sky Sports Action. You can therefore live stream the game on mobile, tablet and desktop by using Sky Go. Team news Barbarians: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 1 Cian Healy, 2 Camille Chat, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 5 David Ribbans, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 7 Sam Cane, 8 Shannon Frizell. Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Will Collier, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Joe Marchant, 23 Lachlan Boshier. Article continues below South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Marco van Staden, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez. Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.
Belfast Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Dunlop lays down gauntlet by smashing qualifying record on return to Tandragee 100
The Isle of Man TT star is competing at the Co Armagh meeting at the invitation of personal sponsor Gerry Rice of Around A Pound – the title backers of the national road race. Dunlop smashed the qualifying record to put his MD Racing BMW on pole for Saturday's Open Superbike races. He also finished on the podium in third position in the non-championship Supersport race, despite starting from 17th position on the grid after running into a problem with his Ducati in qualifying. On his last appearance at Tandragee in 2013, Dunlop won both Superbike races by 26 seconds on the McAdoo/Hunts Honda Fireblade. Mike Browne from Cork won the four-lap Supersport race by half-a-second from Skerries man Michael Sweeney, with Dunlop 2.7s back in third on corrected time and clear of Conor Cummins (Burrows/RK Racing Ducati) in fourth. The Ballymoney ace set the fastest lap of the race on the Milwaukee Ducati at 107.445mph and will be fired up to reach the top step in today's Supersport encounter. Dunlop is on a high after winning four more races at the Isle of Man TT to extend his record to 33 victories. He broke his uncle Joey's famous 24-year-old record of 26 wins in 2024. Earlier this month it was announced that Dunlop would be made an MBE in recognition of his motorcycling success, following in the footsteps of Joey, who received an MBE in 1986 and an OBE 10 years later. Last year the 36-year-old stated that Irish national road racing 'was finished', but Dunlop said he was happy to lend his support to the Tandragee organisers. 'The TT will thrive regardless, the North West will thrive regardless (of whether national road racing continues) – that might be controversial,' Dunlop said. 'National road racing used to be the platform to go international road racing. 'Realistically, who is now winning international road races who is a national road racer? We're racing against BSB people now. 'That's who is at the front of the North West now, that's who wants to be riding at the front of the TT.' Dunlop, who started the road racing season with a double at the Cookstown 100 in April, said it was 'nice' to add his name to the Tandragee entry list. 'It's harder for the smaller races,' he said. 'But it's hard to say the people aren't supporting (road racing) any more when you see the amount of people at the North West and TT.' The popular road race, organised by the North Armagh Club, is taking place for the first time since 2022. Earlier, Dunlop recorded a new qualifying lap record on his 1000cc BMW Superstock machine with a speed of 107.97mph. His time of 2:58.174 was around 1.3 seconds quicker than Derek Sheils' record from 2018 (107.212mph). Dunlop secured pole for Saturday's Open and Tandragee 100 races by 2.8s from Sweeney (106.308mph) on the Martin Jones Racing BMW. Browne will line up in third on his 600cc Yamaha. The Irish rider was just under half-a-second down on Sweeney, lapping at 105.866mph. Ramsey rider Cummins was fourth quickest on the Burrows/RK Racing BMW (105.035mph). The top six was completed by Shaun Anderson on the Team Classic Suzuki and Manxman Marcus Simpson (WH Racing powered by Dynobike Honda). Fellow Isle of Man rider Joe Yeardsley was next riding an Aprilia for Trevor Scott, with the top eight rounded out by Ulsterman Neil Kernohan on his Kernohan Racing Yamaha R1. Browne topped the Supersport times at 106.148mph from Sweeney (104.516mph) and Darryl Tweed (104.246mph). Anderson was fourth fastest on his Suzuki ahead of Cummins. Sweeney claimed pole in the Supertwin class on his MSR Aprilia with a speed of 102.344mph, almost four seconds clear of Tweed (Novo Gen by FAO Racing Aprilia). Sweeney will be looking for more success in Saturday's Supertwin race after earning his maiden podium in the class at the North West 200 in May, when he finished as the runner-up in the second race behind Paul Jordan. Kernohan had a strong run on his Aprilia to qualify fourth behind Barry Furber on the DC Autos Yamaha. The Supertwin session was restarted following a red flag stoppage, which resulted in a delay to the evening schedule. Ten races are due to be held on Saturday, with roads closed this morning from 9:30am and reopening by 7pm. The first race for Supertwin/Supermono riders is scheduled to commence at 10am.
